Religious groups plant trees

BOGOR: Two religious organizations and an environmental group joined together on Sunday to re-green a water catchment area in Megamendung, Bogor, planting some 5,000 seedlings on a hill in the area.

Participants included the Indonesian Pandita Sabha Buddha Dharma Foundation (YPSBDI), the Muhammadiyah Youth Organization (IRM) and the Environment Movement (GPSK) along with local farmers and high school students.

YPSBDI spokesman Alim Sudio said the tree-planting activity would improve the environment in the area as well as promote understanding between those of different faiths.

More tree planting activities are scheduled for Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Madiun, Pontianak, Makassar and Medan, Alim said.

Farmer coordinator James A. Mare said the tree planting exercise was a boon to the area.

"There is a large amount of critical land here, therefore these programs should be expanded," he said. -- JP